Fun at the Science Fair!

Thank you to everyone who helped out at the Science Fair and to all who participated and came out to take a look at the great experiments! It was great fun and a lot of work that went into it.

Thank you to Amy Oliver for starting and running the Science Fair for 3 years now - there has been a lot of scientific investigation and fun all 3 years!

Some highlights from this year if you missed it, were the demonstrations in the Gym:

The bending bones (bones that had been soaked in vinegar for several days). http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/rubberbone.php

The bubbles with holes in them.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/experimentals/experiments/episode12_1.htm

The dissecting of the Salmon at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery exhibit. http://www.issaquahfish.org/education/science-fairs.html

There were several other great demonstrations and of course lots and lots of experiments done by you - great job everyone!

Now that the Fernwood Science Fair is over, what can you do to keep enjoying and experimenting with science?

Notice things around you and think about why they happen. Why do the days get longer during the Summer? What is my toothpaste made out of? How does my watch or clock work? Why do both my brothers have attached earlobes, but mine are free hanging? What constellations am I seeing in the sky at this time of year? Anything you wonder about, take the time to think more about it, read about it, watch a video or look it up on the web. Science is everywhere, take time to investigate.

Here are a few ideas to help get you started:

Attend the UW Engineering School Discovery Day on Saturday, April 21st from 9am-3pm - they will even have a scavanger hunt this year! http://www.engr.washington.edu/alumcomm/discodays_exhibits.html

Visit the UW Arboretum and look at all the spring blooms or attend the Earth Day Celebration

Family Earth Day Celebration
When: Sunday, April 22, 2012, 10am – 12pm
Where: Graham Visitor Center, Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Drive E, Seattle, WA 98112
Note
We will be in the courtyard next to the Graham Visitor Center. If it is raining we will be in the west wing of the greenhouse. This event is in partnership with the Wilderness Awareness School

Check out the Burke Museum's Fishes of the Pacific Coast event on Monday, April 16th http://www.burkemuseum.org/events/browse/fishes_of_the_pacific_coast

Check out the great line up for the Seattle Science Festival held the first week of June at Seattle Center. http://seattlesciencefestival.org/Science-EXPO-Day/science-expo-day

Books:

How loud can you burp? : more extremely important questions (and answers!) / Glenn Murphy

Q is for quark : a science alphabet book by David Schwartz

Hoaxed! : fakes & mistakes in the world of science / by the editors of YES mag

Nibbling on Einstein's brain : the good, the bad & the bogus in science / by Diane Swanson

Science detectives : how scientists solved six real-life mysteries / by the editors of Yes mag

What's going on? : collecting and recording your data / Kylie Burns.

What's the plan? : designing your experiment / Natalie Hyde.

What's going to happen? : making your hypothesis / Paul Challen.

What's the problem? : how to start your scientific investigation / Kylie Burns.

Exploratopia / by Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium

Maybe yes, maybe no : a guide for young skeptics / by Dan Barker

What just happened? : reading results and making inferences / Paul Challen.

What do we know now? : drawing conclusions and answering the question / Robin Johnson.

Are lobsters ambidextrous? : an imponderables book / David Feldman

Why is snot green? : and other extremely important questions (and answers) / Glenn Murphy.